Method and apparatus for playing a card game

ABSTRACT

Each player receives a play deck of cards from 1 to a first number and a guess deck of cards from 1 to the first number times the number of players. Each player selects a guess card representing each player&#39;s guess of the hand total. Play proceeds with each player revealing a play card and adding numerical values of revealed play cards to obtain a hand total when all have revealed a play card. The player whose guess card equals the hand total wins the hand. Alternatively, a player whose guess card is closest to without exceeding the hand total can win.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to games, and, more particularly, togames played with cards and software and/or computer program productsthat emulate such play and/or facilitate such play in a virtual form.

BACKGROUND ART

Card games based on chance are well known, as are card games based onmathematics and pattern recognition. To enhance playability andenjoyment, it can be advantageous to offer a card game using acombination of these play elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of playing a card game with at least two players in which afirst plurality of play cards can be provided, each play card bearingplay deck indicia including a representation of a play numerical valueof the respective play card. The first plurality of play cards caninclude at least two sets of play cards, each play card in a respectiveplay card set having a unique play numerical value within the set of atleast a first predetermined number and no more than a secondpredetermined number. A second plurality of guess cards can also beprovided, each guess card bearing guess deck indicia including arepresentation of a guess numerical value of the respective guess card.The second plurality of guess cards can include at least two sets ofguess cards, each guess card in a respective guess card set having aunique guess numerical value within the set of at least a thirdpredetermined number and no more than a fourth predetermined number.Each player can be provided a set of play cards and a set of guesscards, each set of guess cards, a number of guess cards in each set ofguess cards depending on at least a number of players. A hand of playcan be started by each player selecting a card from the respective setof guess cards, a guess numerical value of each selected guess cardrepresenting the respective player's guess as to what a hand total willbe. Each player can reveal a play numerical value of one respective playcard, and a hand total can be determined as a sum of the play numericalvalues of the revealed play cards. The respective selected guess cardsof the players can be revealed, and a hand winner can be determinedbased on a comparison of the selected guess cards to the hand total.

A computer program product can enable play of a card game on a computingdevice using representations of at least objects used to play the cardgame. The computer program product can include instructions in the formof computer executable program code that configures the computing deviceto provide a first plurality of play cards, each play card bearing playdeck indicia including a representation of a play numerical value of therespective play card. The first plurality of play cards can include atleast two sets of play cards, each play card in a respective play cardset having a unique play numerical value within the set of at least afirst predetermined number and no more than a second predeterminednumber. A second plurality of guess cards can also be provided, and eachguess card can bear guess deck indicia, which can include arepresentation of a guess numerical value of the respective guess card.The second plurality of guess cards can include at least two sets ofguess cards, each guess card in a respective guess card set having aunique guess numerical value within the set of at least a thirdpredetermined number and no more than a fourth predetermined number. Aset of play cards and a set of guess cards can be provided for eachplayer. Each set of guess cards can include a number of guess cards ineach set of guess cards depending on at least a number of players. Auser interface can be provided and configured to start a hand of play byenabling each player to select a guess card from the respective set ofguess cards, a guess numerical value of each selected guess cardrepresenting the respective player's guess as to what a hand total willbe. Each player can select one play card from the respective set of playcards, and a play numerical value of a respective selected played cardcan be revealed. The user interface can further be configured todetermine the hand total as a sum of the play numerical values of therevealed play cards, after all players have revealed a respective playcard. Responsive to all players having revealed a respective play card,the guess numerical values of the respective selected guess cards of theplayers can be revealed, and a hand winner can be determined based on acomparison of the selected guess cards to the hand total.

Other aspects of the invention provide methods, systems, programproducts, and methods of using and generating each, which include and/orimplement some or all of the actions described herein. The illustrativeaspects of the invention are designed to solve one or more of theproblems herein described and/or one or more other problems notdiscussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the disclosure will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings that depict various aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of playing cards according to anembodiment of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of playing cards according to anembodiment of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a face of a playing cardaccording to an embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic illustration of play of a game accordingto embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method of playing a gameaccording to embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of an implementation ofembodiments of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a computing device in which animplementation of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein can bepracticed.

It is noted that the drawings can not be to scale. The drawings areintended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and thereforeshould not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In thedrawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above, aspects of the invention provide a method andapparatus for playing a card game, which can include software and/orcomputer program products that emulate such play and/or facilitate suchplay in a virtual form. As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the term“set” means one or more (i.e., at least one) and the phrase “anysolution” means any now known or later developed solution.

Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include apparatus for anda method of playing a card game for at least two players. With referenceto FIG. 1, game cards 100 can include a first plurality of cards 110,such as a first deck of cards, and a second plurality of cards 120, suchas a second deck of cards. First plurality of cards 110 can be called aplay deck, and second plurality of cards 120 can be called a guess deck.Each play card 111 of play deck 110 can bear first or play deck indicia112, and each guess card 121 of guess deck 120 can bear second or guessdeck indicia 122. Play deck indicia 112 and guess deck indicia 122 canappear on a back 113, 123 of a respective play or guess card 111, 121and/or can appear on a face 115, 125 of a respective play or guess card.A respective mark 114, 124 identifying each card as a play card 111and/or guess card 121 can be included as part of play deck indicia 112and/or or guess deck indicia 122. Additional marks 116, 126 can also beincluded as desired and/or appropriate, such as a mark identifying eachcard as belonging to a set as will be explained below and can appear onone or both of backs 113, 123 and/or faces 115, 125 of play and/or guesscards 111, 121.

Play deck 110 and/or guess deck 120 can include a set of play cards 111and/or a set of guess cards 121 for each player. For example, as seen inFIG. 2, four sets 210, 212, 214, 216 of play cards 111 can be provided,and four sets 220, 222, 224, 226 of guess cards 121 can be provided.Where multiple sets of play cards 111 and/or guess cards 121 areprovided, additional marks 116, 126 can be provided to identify eachcard as belonging to a particular set. While additional marks 116, 126have been shown on the backs 113, 123 of play cards 111 and guess cards121, these marks 116, 126 can appear on either and/or both of backs 113,123 and faces 115, 125 of either and/or both of play cards 111 and/orguess cards 121.

An example of a card face 300 usable as a play card face 115 (FIG. 2)and/or a guess card face 125 (FIG. 2) is shown in FIG. 3. Play deckindicia 112 (FIG. 2) and/or guess deck indicia 122 (FIG. 2) can includeface indicia 310 including at least a representation 312 of a numericalvalue of the respective card. This representation 312 can include, inembodiments, a simple Arabic base ten number, a Roman numeral, a numberof spots or marks or symbols equal to the numerical value of a givencard, and/or another representation as may be desired and/orappropriate. Face indicia 310 can further include additional graphics314, such as decorative graphics and/or a suit, as can be desired and/orappropriate. In embodiments, bonus indicator indicia 316 can beincluded, in addition to a number of players indicia 318, particularlyon a guess card. Bonus indicator indicia 316 can indicate a number ofpoints and/or a multiplier or the like to be applied to a respectivecard during scoring, if any, and can take the form of symbols and/ornumerals. In the example shown, card face 300 includes a numerical valuerepresentation 312 of 10 and bonus indicator indicia 316 of three dotsor circles, indicating a bonus of 3. Thus, for example, a “10” card canhave a three point bonus, which can give the card a total scoring valueof four, in embodiments, fourteen in alternative embodiments, or thirtyin additional embodiments. While a series of dots or circles has beenshown, any suitable symbol(s) can be used for bonus indicator indicia316 so long as the bonus value is conveyed. In addition, number ofplayers indicia 318 can indicate that the bonus applies only when theindicated number of players are playing, or that the bonus only applieswhen a number of players other than that shown in number of playersindicia are playing. For example, in the case in which the number ofplayers indicia 318 indicates a number of players at which the bonusapplies, a “2” in parentheses, as shown, can be used to indicate thatthe bonus only applies when two players are playing; if three or fourplayers were playing, the bonus shown in bonus indicator indicia 316would not apply. Parentheses need not be included, and an indicatorother than an Arabic numeral can be used.

In embodiments, referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, each play card set210-216 of play deck 110 includes play cards 111 with numerical valuesfrom a first predetermined number to a second predetermined number. Forexample, play deck 110 can include four sets 210-216 of play cards 111from one to five, though the range can be from zero to five, or anyother range as can be desired and/or appropriate. In embodiments, eachguess card set 220-226 can include guess cards 121 with numerical valuesfrom a third predetermined number to a fourth predetermined number. Inembodiments, the third predetermined number can be one, and,advantageously, the fourth predetermined number can advantageously be anumber of sets of play cards 210-216, which is a maximum number ofplayers, times the second predetermined number. Using the example aboveof four sets of play cards 210-216 from one to five, each set of guesscards 220-226 would include guess cards 121 with numerical values fromone to twenty. While this example uses a continuous range, it is withinthe scope of embodiments to employ a discontinuous range in guess and/orplay cards. Additionally, in embodiments employing a continuous range inguess and/or play cards as shown in the example, the range of cardsemployed in each set of guess cards 220-226 can depend on the number ofplayers playing the game. Thus, if there are four sets of play cards,but only two players are playing, then only guess cards up to ten wouldbe used for each player, while if there were three players, guess cardsup to fifteen would be used. In embodiments, each play card set 210-216can include a “pass” card that has no numerical value or a numericalvalue of zero.

A schematic representation of a game set-up 400 according to embodimentsappears in FIGS. 4 and 5. Four players 410, 420, 430, 440 are used inthis example, each having selected a guess card 412, 422, 432, 442,based at least on its respective numerical value, representing therespective player's guess as to what a round or hand total will be.Remaining guess cards 414, 424, 434, 444 can be set aside, and playcards 416, 426, 436, 446 can be available, such as in a hand each playercan view and/or hold, a randomized pile whose faces are concealed, orother ways as can be agreed upon by the players. In a game in which eachplayer can view and/or hold his or her play cards 416, 426, 436, 446,each player can select a play card based at least on its numericalvalue, and can further account for impressions of other players. A firstplayer 410 can select a play card 418 and can reveal its value, such asby placing it face up on table 402. A second player 420 can select arespective play card 428 and can reveal its value, and a running totalcan be found by adding the values of revealed cards 418, 428. Play cancontinue with third player 430 and fourth player 440 selecting andrevealing the values of respective play cards 438, 448, the values ofeach card being added to the running total. When fourth player 440 hasplayed, the running total after fourth player's play card 448 has beenadded becomes the hand or round total. Thus, in the example shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, first player 410 plays a 5, and second player 420 plays a3, making a running total of 8. Third player 430 plays a 2 for a runningtotal of 10, and fourth player 440 plays a 1 for a running total of 11,which becomes the hand or round total. In embodiments, all players cankeep their selected play cards concealed until all are ready, thenreveal the selected play cards simultaneously. The hand total in such acase is still the sum of the numerical values of the revealed selectedplay cards, but a running total is optional.

As shown in FIG. 5, once all players have revealed a play card, eachplayer can reveal his/her guess card 412, 422, 432, 442, simultaneouslyor sequentially as may be desired. A winner can be determined to be theplayer whose guess card value equals the hand or round total. Thus, inthe example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, third player 430 is the winner sinceguess card 432 has a value of 11. If no player's guess card equals theround total, then the round can simply be disregarded in embodiments,but alternate ways of handling this situation fall with the scope ofembodiments. For example, a winner can be determined as the player whoseguess card is closest in value to the hand or round total or closest towithout being greater than the hand or round total. If more than oneplayer can be declared a winner of a hand, then in embodiments eachplayer can receive appropriate credit or scoring, though the round cansimply be disregarded in other embodiments. While the example shown anddescribed above employs a single guess and/or play card for each playerin a hand or round, embodiments can allow players to use multiple guessand/or play cards.

A game can be just one round or hand or can include multiple rounds orhands. In embodiments, the round or hand winner can remove the winningguess card from his or her guess card deck for the remainder of play ofthe game. Additional embodiments can allow the round or hand winner'swinning guess card to be placed in a pile or stack for the respectiveplayer, the round or hand winner can receive all guess cards used in thehand, or all guess cards can be replaced, depending on the desires ofthe players. A score can be kept for each player based on how manyrounds each player has won, such as with a tally, or a point systembased on the numerical values of the cards can be employed. For example,in embodiments in which the winning guess cards are removed from play,each player's score can be the number of the respective player's winningguess cards, if any, the sum of the numerical values of the respectiveplayer's winning guess cards, if any, or other score based on therespective player's winning guess cards, if any. A score can be modifiedwhere bonus indicator indicia (FIG. 3, 316) are employed, as can beaffected by number of player indicia (FIG. 3, 318) where employed. Anexample of a bonus system that might be employed in embodiments includesa bonus of three for a zero card, a bonus of two for a one card, and abonus of one for a two card regardless of the number of players, but fortwo, three, and four players, the bonus of three would apply to a tencard, a fifteen card, and a twenty card, respectively, the bonus of twowould apply to a nine card, a fourteen card, and a nineteen card,respectively, and the bonus of one would apply to an eight card, athirteen card, and an eighteen card, respectively. Embodiments cansimply add the bonus to one, add the bonus to a numerical value of arespective card, multiply a numerical value of the card by the bonus,and/or otherwise apply the bonus to achieve a scoring value for arespective card. In embodiments, play can continue indefinitely or untila goal has been reached, such as a number of rounds, until a player hasrun out of guess or play cards, until a player has a predeterminednumber of winning guess cards, which can be adjusted where bonus isused, and/or a predetermined threshold score. For example, a game cancontinue until ten rounds are played, until a player has the equivalentof ten winning guess cards (including bonus where used), until a playerreaches one hundred points, or until some other goal is achieved.

In embodiments in which a game spans more than one hand, then when morethan one player can be declared a hand winner, each player can receivescoring as appropriate, and/or play and/or guess card sets or decks canbe modified. For example, in embodiments in which the winning guess cardof a hand is removed from the winner's guess deck, embodiments canprovide that all winning guess cards of a hand can be removed from therespective players' guess decks, that all guess cards used in a hand beremoved from the players' respective decks, and/or that all guess cardsused in a hand be given to the round or hand winner. In addition,embodiments can include removing play cards used in a hand fromrespective players' play card sets or decks and placing them in a “used”pile, the cards therein not being usable again until at least one playerexhausts his or her play card set or deck. At that point, the game canbe declared over and a game winner declared, or play can continue bypicking up the “used” pile and using the play cards therein to continueplay until another goal is reached. As another example, in embodimentswhere a tally is kept of hands won, then all players who can be declareda winner in a hand can receive credit in his or her tally as winning thehand. Alternative solutions also fall within the scope of embodiments.

A method 600 of playing a card game according to embodiments isschematically illustrated in FIG. 6. Play and/or guess cards can bedistributed (block 602) and players can select guess cards (block 604)representative of the respective player's guess as to a hand or roundtotal. Each player selects a play card (block 606), and the players canthen reveal their selected play cards (block 608). The hand or roundtotal can be determined as the sum of the play numerical values of therevealed play cards (block 610), and each player can then reveal his/herrespective selected guess card (block 612). A player whose guess cardequals the hand or round total can qualify as a winner of the hand orround (block 614), though in embodiments, a player whose guess card isclosest in value to without exceeding the hand or round total canqualify as a hand winner. Additionally, in embodiments, if no playerqualifies as a hand winner, the hand can be disregarded. As explainedabove, when more than one player can be declared winner of a hand orround, embodiments provide that all such players can be declared awinner and/or receive credit under a scoring or tally scheme used by theplayers, while the hand can simply be disregarded in other embodiments.

At the end of a hand or round, a check can be made to see if the game isover (decision block 616), such as when the game is just one hand orround or if a particular number of hands or rounds has been played. Ifnot, then any scoring that might be required can be performed (block618), and another check can be made to see if the game is over (decisionblock 620), such as when a particular score has been reached or exceededor when another goal has been met, such as a player running out of playor guess cards. If the game is not over, then any necessarymodifications to the play and/or guess card sets or decks can be made(block 622), and a new hand or round can begin by players selectingguess cards (block 604), such as from cards already in their possession.In embodiments, play can instead return to distributing play and orguess cards (block 602), depending on how players have agreed toproceed.

Embodiments of the inventive game disclosed herein can further beimplemented in the form of a computer program product. Such a computerprogram product can allow a player to manipulate representations ofcards on a display of a computing device, such as a personal computer, asmart phone or other handheld device, a game kiosk, and/or othercomputing device as can be appropriate and/or desired. Thus, thecomputer program product can, for example, display images of play andguess cards, such as graphical representations of the examples shown inFIGS. 1-5, and can provide a user interface configured to allow a playerto manipulate and/or play the card images. In embodiments, the computerprogram product can allow a player to customize the manner in whichcards are displayed, including changing the first and second deckindicia, whether the cards are rendered in two or three dimensions, andother graphical options as can be desired and/or appropriate.

Further, embodiments of the invention can allow a player to interactwith players using instances of the computer program product on othercomputing devices so that a game can be played with players fromdisparate locations. Such interaction can, in embodiments, befacilitated by a game server to which each player connects and withwhich a player can indicate a desire to play the game. As seen in theexample of FIG. 7, a game arrangement 700 can include a communicationsystem 710 that can be used to enable a host device 720, such as a gameserver, to interact with one or more client devices 730, 732, 734, 736,738. Host device 720 can then “gather” players who are using clientdevices 730-738 into a game and relay actions of players to each otherto effect game play. In embodiments, host device 720 can provide agraphical representation of a play environment, including, for example,a game table, an avatar for at least one player, a room in which thegame can appear to be played, and other visual elements as can bedesired and/or appropriate. Host device 720 can further allowcustomization of the environment by one or more players, as well asselection of rules to be applied, scoring, and end game goal. Further,embodiments can provide audio elements, such as music, game play sounds,speech, environmental noises, and the like, to enhance game playexperience.

In embodiments, the computer program product can provide much of thesame functionality provided by a game server, but locally on a player'scomputing device, so that a user's device can provide functionality ofhost device 720 as well as a client device 730-738. For example, much ofthe graphical rendering could be implemented by the player's computingdevice based on communicated actions of other players. The computerprogram product can even act as a game server to at least some degree,enabling peer-to-peer communication between computing devices tofacilitate game play between respective players via infraredcommunication, a wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth, acomputer network, a cellular communications network, or via othercommunication arrangements as can be available, suitable, appropriate,and/or desired.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 8 shows an illustrative environment 800for a computer program product implementing a game according to anembodiment. To this extent, environment 800 includes a computer system810 that can perform a process described herein in order to enable gameplay. In particular, computer system 810 is shown including a gameprogram 820, which makes computer system 810 operable to enable gameplay by performing a process described herein.

Computer system 810 is shown including a processing component or unit812 (e.g., one or more processors), an input/output (I/O) component 814(e.g., one or more I/O interfaces and/or devices), a storage component816 (e.g., a storage hierarchy), and a communications pathway 817. Ingeneral, processing component 812 executes program code, such as gameprogram 820, which is at least partially fixed in storage component 816.While executing program code, processing component 812 can process data,which can result in reading and/or writing transformed data from/tostorage component 816 and/or I/O component 814 for further processing.Pathway 817 provides a communications link between each of thecomponents in computer system 810. I/O component 814 can comprise one ormore human I/O devices, which enable a human user 802 to interact withcomputer system 810 and/or one or more communications devices to enablea system user 802 to communicate with computer system 810 using any typeof communications link. To this extent, game program 820 can manage aset of interfaces (e.g., graphical user interface(s), applicationprogram interface, and/or the like) that enable human and/or systemusers 802 to interact with game program 820. Further, game program 820can manage (e.g., store, retrieve, create, manipulate, organize,present, etc.) the data, such as game data 818, using any solution.

In any event, computer system 810 can comprise one or more generalpurpose computing articles of manufacture (e.g., computing devices)capable of executing program code, such as game program 820, installedthereon. As used herein, it is understood that “program code” means anycollection of instructions, in any language, code or notation, thatcause a computing device having an information processing capability toperform a particular action either directly or after any combination ofthe following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; (b)reproduction in a different material form; and/or (c) decompression. Tothis extent, game program 820 can be embodied as any combination ofsystem software and/or application software.

Further, game program 820 can be implemented using a set of modules 822.In this case, a module 822 can enable computer system 810 to perform aset of tasks used by game program 820, and can be separately developedand/or implemented apart from other portions of game program 820. Asused herein, the term “component” means any configuration of hardware,with or without software, which implements the functionality describedin conjunction therewith using any solution, while the term “module”means program code that enables a computer system 810 to implement theactions described in conjunction therewith using any solution. Whenfixed in a storage component 816 of a computer system 810 that includesa processing component 812, a module is a substantial portion of acomponent that implements the actions. Regardless, it is understood thattwo or more components, modules, and/or systems can share some/all oftheir respective hardware and/or software. Further, it is understoodthat some of the functionality discussed herein can not be implementedor additional functionality can be included as part of computer system810.

When computer system 810 comprises multiple computing devices, eachcomputing device can have only a portion of game program 820 fixedthereon (e.g., one or more modules 822). However, it is understood thatcomputer system 810 and game program 820 are only representative ofvarious possible equivalent computer systems that can perform a processdescribed herein. To this extent, in other embodiments, thefunctionality provided by computer system 810 and game program 820 canbe at least partially implemented by one or more computing devices thatinclude any combination of general and/or specific purpose hardware withor without program code. In each embodiment, the hardware and programcode, if included, can be created using standard engineering andprogramming techniques, respectively.

Regardless, when computer system 810 includes multiple computingdevices, the computing devices can communicate over any type ofcommunications link. Further, while performing a process describedherein, computer system 810 can communicate with one or more othercomputer systems using any type of communications link. In either case,the communications link can comprise any combination of various types ofwired and/or wireless links; comprise any combination of one or moretypes of networks; and/or utilize any combination of various types oftransmission techniques and protocols.

While shown and described herein as a method and system for playing agame, it is understood that aspects of the invention further providevarious alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, theinvention provides a computer program fixed in at least onecomputer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer systemto playing a game. To this extent, the computer-readable medium includesprogram code, such as game program 820 (FIG. 8), which implements someor all of a process described herein. It is understood that the term“computer-readable medium” comprises one or more of any type of tangiblemedium of expression, now known or later developed, from which a copy ofthe program code can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicatedby a computing device. For example, the computer-readable medium cancomprise: one or more portable storage articles of manufacture; one ormore memory/storage components of a computing device; paper; and/or thelike.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of providing acopy of program code, such as game program 820 (FIG. 8), whichimplements some or all of a process described herein. In this case, acomputer system can process a copy of program code that implements someor all of a process described herein to generate and transmit, forreception at a second, distinct location, a set of data signals that hasone or more of its characteristics set and/or changed in such a manneras to encode a copy of the program code in the set of data signals.Similarly, an embodiment of the invention provides a method of acquiringa copy of program code that implements some or all of a processdescribed herein, which includes a computer system receiving the set ofdata signals described herein, and translating the set of data signalsinto a copy of the computer program fixed in at least onecomputer-readable medium. In either case, the set of data signals can betransmitted/received using any type of communications link.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method ofgenerating a system for playing a game. In this case, a computer system,such as computer system 810 (FIG. 8), can be obtained (e.g., created,maintained, made available, etc.) and one or more components forperforming a process described herein can be obtained (e.g., created,purchased, used, modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer system. Tothis extent, the deployment can comprise one or more of: (1) installingprogram code on a computing device; (2) adding one or more computingand/or I/O devices to the computer system; (3) incorporating and/ormodifying the computer system to enable it to perform a processdescribed herein; and/or the like.

It is understood that aspects of the invention can be implemented aspart of a business method that performs a process described herein on asubscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service providercould offer to playing a game as described herein. In this case, theservice provider can manage (e.g., create, maintain, support, etc.) acomputer system, such as computer system 810 (FIG. 8), that performs aprocess described herein for one or more customers. In return, theservice provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under asubscription and/or fee agreement, receive payment from the sale ofadvertising to one or more third parties, and/or the like.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that can be apparent to anindividual in the art are included within the scope of the invention asdefined by the accompanying claims.

1. A method of playing a card game with at least two players comprising:providing a first plurality of play cards, each play card bearing playdeck indicia including a representation of a play numerical value of therespective play card, the first plurality of play cards including atleast two sets of play cards, each play card in a respective play cardset having a unique play numerical value within the set of at least afirst predetermined number and no more than a second predeterminednumber; providing a second plurality of guess cards, each guess cardbearing guess deck indicia including a representation of a guessnumerical value of the respective guess card, the second plurality ofguess cards including at least two sets of guess cards, each guess cardin a respective guess card set having a unique guess numerical valuewithin the set of at least a third predetermined number and no more thana fourth predetermined number; providing a set of play cards for eachplayer; providing a set of guess cards for each player, a number ofguess cards in each set of guess cards depending on at least a number ofplayers; starting a hand of play by each player selecting a card fromthe respective set of guess cards, a guess numerical value of eachselected guess card representing the respective player's guess as towhat a hand total will be; each player revealing a play numerical valueof one respective play card; determining a hand total as a sum of theplay numerical values of the revealed play cards; revealing therespective selected guess cards of the players; and determining a handwinner based on a comparison of the selected guess cards to the handtotal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of a handwinner includes declaring as a hand winner a player whose selected guesscard is equal to the hand total.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetermining of a hand winner includes, responsive to at least twoplayers qualifying as hand winners, declaring all of the at least twoqualifying players as hand winners.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising keeping a score for each player.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein keeping a score includes at least one of keeping a tally ofrespective hands won or keeping a running total of respective winningguess card values of each hand.
 6. The method of claim 4, whereinkeeping a score for each player includes modifying a score based atleast in part on a number of players.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising removing at least one selected guess card or selected playcard from a respective player's set of respective cards.
 8. The methodof claim 7, wherein at least the winning selected guess card is removedfrom play, and further comprising continuing play until all of aplayer's guess cards are removed from play.
 9. The method of claim 7,wherein at least one guess card includes bonus indicator indiciarepresenting a respective bonus to be applied to a respective score ofthe respective card.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least oneguess card that bears bonus indicator indicia further includes number ofplayers indicia that indicates that the respective bonus is applied whena particular number of players are playing.
 11. The method of claim 1,wherein the second predetermined number is five and the fourthpredetermined number is twenty.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst predetermined number is one of zero or one.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the third predetermined number is one.
 14. A computerprogram product for enabling play of a card game on a computing deviceusing representations of at least objects used to play the card game,the computer program product comprising instructions in the form ofcomputer executable program code that configures the computing deviceto: provide a first plurality of play cards, each play card bearing playdeck indicia including a representation of a play numerical value of therespective play card, the first plurality of play cards including atleast two sets of play cards, each play card in a respective play cardset having a unique play numerical value within the set of at least afirst predetermined number and no more than a second predeterminednumber; provide a second plurality of guess cards, each guess cardbearing guess deck indicia including a representation of a guessnumerical value of the respective guess card, the second plurality ofguess cards including at least two sets of guess cards, each guess cardin a respective guess card set having a unique guess numerical valuewithin the set of at least a third predetermined number and no more thana fourth predetermined number; provide a set of play cards for eachplayer; provide a set of guess cards from the second plurality of cardsfor each player, a number of guess cards in each set of guess cardsdepending on at least a number of players; provide a user interfaceconfigured to start a hand of play by enabling each player to select aguess card from the respective set of guess cards, a guess numericalvalue of each selected guess card representing the respective player'sguess as to what a hand total will be; enable each player to select oneplay card from the respective set of play cards; reveal a play numericalvalue of a respective play card; determine a hand total as a sum of theplay numerical values of the revealed play cards after all players haverevealed a respective play card; responsive to all players havingrevealed a respective play card, reveal the guess numerical values ofthe respective selected guess cards of the players; and determine a handwinner based on a comparison of the selected guess cards to the handtotal.
 15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein thedetermining of a hand winner includes declaring a winner as a playerwhose selected guess card has a value that is one of closest to the handtotal without exceeding the hand total or equal to the hand total. 16.The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the code furtherconfigures the computer to allow multiple hands to be played and to keepa score for each player, wherein at least one guess card bears bonusindicator indicia representing a bonus to be applied to a scoring of therespective card.
 17. The computer program product of claim 14, whereinthe first predetermined number is one of zero or one.
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 14, wherein the computer program product isconfigured to simulate at least one player.
 19. The computer programproduct of claim 14, wherein the computer program product is configuredto enable play by at least one remote player by communicating with arespective computing device over a network.
 20. The computer programproduct of claim 19, wherein the communicating is achieved via at leastone host device configured to facilitate play with other players, and torelay communication between computing devices of players.